DACP Staff

Kathy Coleman, Artistic Director, is a DanceAbility instructor and has prior dance experience with the New Dance Company of Stockton, California, which included studying modern dance and expressive movement arts. She conceived of the Disability Art and Culture Project not only as a way to support movement arts, but also to foster affirmative disability identity in individuals and the community. Kathy has a Masters in Social Work with a concentration in Disability Studies. The core of her artistic work is centered on themes of disability from a social relations perspective. She uses text and movement to portray lived experiences of cross disability realities and dreams. She does not shy away from difficult or dark truths which, in her view, hold their own beauty. She incorporates bodies and ways of moving to stretch the audience’s view of dance and the possibilities of an inclusive society.

Shannon Sullivan, Managing Director, joined the Disability Art and Culture Project in April 2016. As Managing Director, Shannon oversees administration for the organization and our programs, including non-profit management, event planning and promotion, and grant support. Before Shannon came to DACP, she was an administrator at the University of Oregon for 5 years in the student union and School of Architecture and Allied Arts. Also at the University of Oregon, Shannon received a BFA in Painting in 2011. She is excited to support DACP in providing integrated access to Disability art and culture, and their grassroots social justice work. When she’s not working for DACP, Shannon is making paintings, trying out new recipes, playing board games, and camping.